Adios 2016!

It’s December now and the year 2016 is about to end. It’s a good time to think about the year that went by and the road ahead for 2017. There are no resolutions for 2017 but surely there are many ideas and plans.

I started my blogging journey in 2015.

Initially, I used to write short posts focusing more on pictures, but over the course of time, I started writing detailed posts in response to the readers of my blog.

After mulling over for many months, I decided to offer some of my posts on iOS-based app GPSmyCity to help travelers and tourists visiting Jaipur. You can check out the list of posts available for free download at Jaipurthrumylens!! is now on GPSmyCity

In the next few days, I’ll be publishing a list of 5 most popular posts of 2016, for the benefit of those who have missed reading them. Over the course of time,I have written on varied topics, even though the central theme was Jaipur. There were posts on heritage, temples, nature, events, food, festivals, getaways around Jaipur to name a few. I’m curious to know what kind of posts interest you? Eagerly Anticipating, your further comments.

I would like to thank & appreciate the generosity extended by the fellow bloggers who re-blogged many of my posts on their blog as well as on their social media. If we are not following each other on Facebook,Twitter, Instagramnow, it’s good time to do so. You can either follow me through the links below or leave the links in the comment section below, for me to follow you.

A big thanks to all my readers for likes, comments, and care. You all make it interesting!

One of life’s problems is that there is never enough time..and that relates to blogging. You start, you follow, but it’s so hard to catch everything that is written, it becomes a treadmill as time is limited and you miss fantastic posts. I have missed out in 2016 on some wonderful posts. I get a quick 30 mins spare, head to the reader, the internet is slow..aaagh, but I have my favorites and your blog is one of them and I have loved everything I have managed to read from you, Arv. India is a fascinating country, diverse and on my list to visit in 2017. Jaipur figures highly, I feel almost familiar with your city, thanks to your posts. Keep them coming, please, loving what I read from you about your city. Don’t forget 99% of your audience has no idea about your city and life, that’s what I tell myself when I use my Oman travels endlessly, but really who else knows, so your own take on life is just fascinating for those who really want to see how it is…

You said it so well Vicky! You’re lucky to be capturing Oman. I think it’s the most scenic and beautiful country in the entire middle east. Also it has a good infrastructure to support high end tourism too! Probably Oman along with Jordan is a great places to see natural beauty. I hope you’ll be visiting India and Jaipur soon. Thanks for the love and comments Vicky 🙂

I have really enjoyed your blogs. I only came across them recently but really enjoy the stories; anecdotes and of course the super photographs. I am looking forward to seeing more in 2017. so don’t stop! Happy New year…

Beautifully written Arv! I loved the part where you wrote that there are no resolutions for 2017 but some plans and ideas. Great thought. Looking forward for some more interesting stuff in the upcoming year!

Just subscribed to your other blog! I am excited to read it! I have heard of the famous Valley of Flowers hike and actually looked into it once as I’d love to go. I wish it wasn’t so far to get to India.

You asked what readers want to hear from you and for me I am incredibly curious about Indian life, culture and politics on a wide variety of topics. I am fascinated with India!

Congrats on the gpsmycity articles and happy new year! Keep sharing your world with us!
Nicole

Nicole thanks for sharing your thoughts. I know from American continent it’s far away – some 22-30 hours depending on where you’re based in USA! But I’m sure you’ll love it whenever that happens.
I’ll ensure to post some, if not all of those from your interest areas Nicole.
I’m always jealous with the kind of sunrise and other natural pictures you post. Love them all! Btw you should hurry up for the valley of flowers trek. I always feel that the mass tourism is not good for vof!

I congratulate you for the growth of your blog arv! You are doing a wonderful job by keeping our heritage alive by focusing on your city.
Wishing you a Happy and creative 2017. Keep writing dear friend 🙂

I don’t think it ever changes, Arv. Up until Christmas Eve, at least, the festivities seem to consist of, especially, office parties; lots of eating and drinking and embarrassing oneself in front of one’s colleagues. Thankfully, that’s something I don’t have to get involved in. Otherwise, it is all about buying too much and dreading the arrival of house guests! You can probably tell from this that I like to keep Christmas as low-key as possible!

I guess we all grow out of all this craziness called “commercial” side of the festivals today, sooner or later. To me it seems as if the whole media is out to convince you that festival is all about spending money and buying stuff (irrespective of your need) and if you’re not getting drunk or passing out drunk, you’re just not enjoying your life! A little bit of all this is perfectly okay and understandable but sinking into such mindset…well that’s something else, altogether!
I’m guessing that some people must be celebrating Christmas in the traditional style in the British countryside!

I’m sure some are, Arv. Presumably we don’t notice them because they keep themselves to themselves rather than making a commotion in the middle of the town.
Do you do anything special, Arv, or is it just another day?

Mick, Jaipur has a very small Christian population. In the traditional sense, we do have few old churches here. One of them is almost 130-150 year old, dating back to the colonial rule. So, the christian population celebrate it in traditional manner. As for the rest, it’s a commercial festival. There are lots of drink, dance and dine parties organized as a commercial activity targeted towards the youth. Almost every mall and hotel has a Christmas decoration. We don’t have a holiday here on Christmas; just another working day Mick!

I think I’d probably assumed that was the case. I do remember when I stayed in a village in Bihar for a while, that the Muslims were always happy to join in with the Hindu festivals, and the Hindus joined in with the Muslim ones. It’s always good to have a reason to party, I suppose!
But whatever you do, Arv, I hope it is peaceful and productive.
…possibly a few photos of a Jaipur Christmas?

Thank you Parul, I’m glad to hear that. I think heritage and history is an important part of city and that’s one of the reason Jaipur is so popular. Hawa Mahal, Amer Palace, Jantar Mantar are so very unique and popular. Apart from these popular ones, there is lot more to explore in the city. I’m happy to have readers like you Parul; that’s the beauty of this blogosphere 🙂

I started following your blog very late, so it would indeed be helpful for me when you post the links of the most popular posts of the year. My special interest is in the life and culture of the people of the city, and the state in general.

Sure Amit, will post that asap! While I have never made any specific post about culture but if you follow my blog you’ll experience it indirectly. Happy to have you here amit! Do check out the other blog listed here, I’m sure you’ll find it interesting! 🙂

I think 2016 was pretty good from the blogging perspective, even though all my travel plans this year didn’t materialize, at all! So I ended up not traveling, at all! Thanks for checking it out and sharing your thoughts here. Which all social media are you on? will follow you! 🙂

Arv, you have such a beautiful blog with great information and lovely pics you take 🙂 I hope 2016 has been great for you and that you’re going to have an even better 2017 🙂 It’s because of you and your blog that I know more about Jaipur and I hope to visit it one day 🙂 Happy New Year!! 😀

Happy to know that you are enjoying this virtual tour of Jaipur, Jennifer. Your comments keeps me going. I’m sure someday you’ll get to travel to Jaipur to enjoy all that it offers in person. Happy New Year to you too! 🙂